Accent Benchtops Rally Queensland 2026 (ARC)

Welcome to the 2026 edition of Accent Benchtops Rally Queensland.

This year’s event is once again promoted by the Brisbane Sporting Car Club, with Accent Benchtops returning as naming rights sponsor. Thank you once again Glenn, for your trust in the RQ Team and your continued support. I also want to thank the huge support of Gympie Regional Council (once again our host region partner), along with HQPlantations, who both provide us with some very challenging roads on which to compete.

ABRQ was again honoured to receive the 2025 E-ROAD “Event of the Year” and the Galvaniize Insurance “Rally Central of the Year”. We will be doing our darndest to again be considered for such awards in 2026. A rally event in Gympie wouldn’t be same if it was held on its own – and this year we will be no different. A clash of dates with a Turf Club meeting means we’ve had to re-locate our event base to another venue. The positive here is that our new Service Park location will be right in the heart of the Gympie CBD. Whilst space will be at a premium, there are so many other benefits this will bring – more visibility, closer to services, food and amenities, greater
promotional opportunities.

For so long, we’ve talked about including a street stage; and this will come to fruition this year; the bonus is that it will be right beside the Service Park. Along with the amazingly popular “Wheels on Mary” street party, I believe we have created a motorsport precinct encapsulating all aspects of our sport in the one location Of course there’s a huge amount of work occurring behind-the-scenes- action to make this all happen – on behalf of the GRC and the many local sponsors, we trust you will enjoy this new venue and the entertainment on offer.

Of course, accommodation in the Gympie township and surrounding areas is filling fast, so I suggest you don’t delay in booking yours. If you have a hankering for camping, we will be able to offer off-site locations only, but within easy access to the central precinct.

The event again uses HQP forest and Shire roads to the south and west of Gympie. Most of these roads were used in the 2025 event but we have reversed the stage directions. With this change, crews will have 4 stages (run twice) on Saturday, with Sunday having 3 stages (run twice).

This year’s Accent Benchtops Rally Qld will feature some 190 km of competitive stages. Recce is scheduled for crews on Thursday and Friday; testing will be available on Friday morning. “Wheels on Mary” on Friday night. Alongside the ARC competition, the 2026 ABRQ event incorporates a round of the Motorsport Australia Queensland Rally Championship, Motorsport Australia Queensland 2WD Rally Championship, Motorsport Australia Queensland Junior Championship, Acworth Recruitment Motorsport Australia Queensland Clubman Rally Series and WSC Subaru
Experts Motorsport Australia Queensland Novice Rally Series. Following on from its popularity, a Regularity category will be included, to help and encourage new and aspiring competitors entering our sport. A reminder to QRC crews to register with QRAP / QRC if they wish to score points in the QRC (see 2026 Motorsport Australia Queensland Rally Championships and Series Sporting Regulations).

On behalf of the 2026 Accent Benchtops Rally Qld Team, I look forward to welcoming you and your Team to Gympie in April.

Yours in Rally,
Brian Everitt
Clerk of the Course / Event Manager